ECUADOR HUMMINGBIRD EXTRAVAGANZA

Transcription

1 407EG3 09/29/04-TN/GL/PG 02/26/07-EM/RS ECUADOR HUMMINGBIRD EXTRAVAGANZA MARCH 22 APRIL 1, Ecuador is quickly becoming the premier birding destination in the Neotropics. Its popularity is growing due to ever-expanding access to extensive birding habitat, unsurpassed scenic splendor, friendly people, and a stable government which uses the U.S. dollar as its currency. Even more than the above, Ecuador s popularity springs from the fact that over 1,500 species of birds have been recorded in this tiny country, in an area smaller than the state of Colorado! While our focus will be finding, identifying, and observing hummingbirds, we will take time to observe a wealth of wonderful tropical birds including trogons, toucans, quetzals, antpittas, parrots, and tanagers. We ll take time to sort out the similarities, learn much about the plant associations and habitats, and seek many of the more skulking species. Among the pleasures of a visit here, other than the obvious countless sightings of rare and exciting bird species, is the chance to explore a mosaic of habitats ranging from the paramo, humid temperate forest, and montane forest of the east Andean slope, to the scrubby areas and woodland of the inter-andean Valley, as well as the elfin forest, cloud forest, and lower montane rainforest of the west Andean slope. While exploring these hummingbird havens, we can expect an extraordinary exhibition of no less than 40 species of hummingbirds, and with luck and careful observation, we have the possibility to witness 60+ species of these unique little creatures. Our day-to-day itinerary will allow us to take advantage of these spectacular habitats and maximize the possibilities for seeing the numerous bird species present. Having comfortable and well-run lodges in the midst of such fine birding locations allows us to relax and enjoy Ecuador, an up-andcoming world-class birding destination! March 22, Day 1: Arrival in Quito. Participants are encouraged to fly to Quito on either American Airlines from Miami at 3:40pm or Continental Airlines from Houston at 3:50pm, which are both scheduled to arrive in the evening. Participants arriving on either flight will be met and transferred to our comfortable hotel. March 23, Day 2: All Day Birding Papallacta Pass. Today we will begin our exploration of the eastern slope of the Andes. We will travel up and over Papallacta Pass, about 14,000 feet elevation, entering the often foggy and cold regions of the paramo. It is hard to believe sometimes, but this habitat holds a wonderful array of hummingbirds, including such elaborate species as the Ecuadorian Hillstar, Blue-mantled Thornbill, and the Purplebacked Thornbill. Our travels will take us from the timberline and paramo down into the humid temperate forest, where we may find such wonderful varieties as Tourmaline Sunangel, Tyrian Metaltail, and Mountain Velvetbreast. Of course, before arriving we will have fully explored the paramo for other highland species such as Red-rumped Bush-Tyrant, White-chinned Thistletail, and Many-striped Canastero, as well as keeping an eye on the open sky for the Andean Condor.

2 Ecuador: A Hummingbird Extravaganza, Page 2 NIGHT: Termas de Papallacta, Papallacta March 24, Day 3: Drive to San Isidro for Lunch, Birding Along the Way. After breakfast and some birding around the lodge, we will continue our journey down the slopes of the eastern Andes. The habitat is healthy and rich all along the road, so we will make a few designated stops at some key locations before arriving at Cabañas San Isidro, located in the lush green vegetation of the subtropical montane forest. Here we have the delightful experience of watching Long-tailed Sylph, Bronzy Inca, Speckled Hummingbird, and the exceptional Chestnutbreasted Coronet busily feeding just an arm s length away, creating a great chance to photograph some of these fairy-like birds. The afternoon will be spent birding around the grounds and near the lodge. NIGHT: Cabañas San Isidro, Cosanga March 25, Day 4: All Day Birding San Isidro Area. Another early start will find us birding along the road near the lodge. We will walk the three kilometers or so, taking time to search through the many mixed feeding flocks that are sure to come our way. Here we hope to see up-close looks at Crested Quetzal, Highland Motmot, Black-billed Mountain-Toucan, Green Jay, White-capped Tanager, Grass-green Tanager, and Northern Mountain-Cacique. Amidst the seemingly endless bombardment of tropical splendor, we will make our way back to have lunch and enjoy yet more hummingbird frenzy. For those who do not wish to spend their time photographing the hummers, the afternoon will be spent birding the many trails around the lodge. NIGHT: Cabañas San Isidro, Cosanga March 26, Day 5: Morning Guacamayo Ridge; Then Back Over Papallacta Pass to Quito. Just a short, thirty-minute drive away lies the Cordillera de Guacamayo at over 7,000 feet. After breakfast we will explore the road leading up to the ridge, where undisturbed forest is never far away. We hope to find Tawny-bellied Hermit and White-tailed Hillstar feeding in the flowers, as well as a number of other tropical bird species such as Andean Solitaire, Green-and-black Fruiteater, Rufous Wren, Barred Becard, and many others. We will spend the morning enjoying this incredible habitat before having to make our way back to Quito via Papallacta Pass, where we will take time after lunch to search for highland species once again. This gives us the chance to find anything we might have missed before! March 27, Day 6: Drive to Séptimo Paraíso via Old Nono/Mindo Road. We will wake up early to explore the western slope of the Andes. Starting from Quito, at nearly 9,000 feet, we will bird our way along the Old Nono/Mindo Road, with scenic views of the surrounding habitats. The area holds an abundant avifauna, including a number of regional endemics, and we will make designated stops at key locations. One of these locations will be in the Tandayapa Valley at Pacha Quindi, nearly 7,000 feet, where we will find numerous hummingbird feeders and an incredible show of no less than 15 species of hummingbirds. This includes Choco endemics such as the Violet-tailed Sylph, Purple-bibbed Whitetip, Brown Inca, Western Emeralds and Empress Brilliant, alongside other regular visitors such as Collared Inca, Booted Racket-tail Hummingbird, Buff-tailed Coronet and Andean Emerald. We will share a box lunch here on the veranda while watching this amazing display of tropical gems. There will be adequate time to enjoy the gardens and photograph hummers, as well as sort through the foraging flocks of tanagers, toucans, barbets, funarids, woodcreepers and flycatchers. Possibilities include such Choco endemics as the Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan and Toucan Barbet. The veranda is also an excellent place to watch for rare swifts and raptors. By late afternoon we will continue our journey along the Old Nono/Mindo Road, stopping a few more times before arriving in the Mindo Valley and our hotel, at around 4,800 feet. We will stay three nights at the strategically located Séptimo Paraíso lodge, which will allow us flexibility to explore the surrounding areas without having to pack and unpack our suitcases. NIGHT: Séptimo Paraíso, Mindo

3 Ecuador: A Hummingbird Extravaganza, Page 3 March 28, Day 7: All Day Birding Mindo Area. This morning we will wake up early to bird the beautiful grounds around the lodge, where we will have the possibility of seeing another Choco endemic, the flamboyant Velvet-purple Coronet, along with White-whiskered Hermit, White-necked Jacobin, Green-crowned Woodnymph, and various other magnificent marvels. After this tantalizing introduction of watching and photographing numerous hummingbirds at the feeders and flowers, we will explore the grounds and trails, where a variety of forest species frequently fly about in tropical splendor. This includes such species as Crimson-rumped Toucanet, Golden-headed Quetzal, Long-tailed Antbird, Glistening Green Tanager, and Golden-winged Manakin. With the lodge never far away, we will have ample time to leisurely explore the surrounding area, which harbors one of the richest montane avifauna anywhere. NIGHT: Séptimo Paraíso, Mindo March 29, Day 8: Day Trip to Pedro Vicente and Los Bancos. We will be waking early to travel an hour and a half to Pedro Vicente de Maldonado. This will be the lowest elevation we shall visit on the west slope. Here we have favorable chances of seeing another Choco endemic, the Purple-chested Hummingbird, along with Blue-chested Hummingbird, Green Thorn-tail, Violet-bellied Hummingbird, and Rufous-tailed Hummingbird. Although the habitat is under serious threat of deforestation, we shall search the patches of remaining habitat for these and other lower elevation species such as Choco Toucan, Pale-mandibled Aracari, Gray-and-Gold Tanager, Guira Tanager, Scarlet-breasted Dacnis, Scarlet-and-White Tanager, and Scarlet-browed Tanager. We will make our way to Arashá Resort and Spa to have lunch, where we will also walk a short trail through some forest foothill habitat. After lunch and the short trail walk, we will continue our journey at Los Bancos Road, just a short distance away. Here the habitat is again patchy but very productive, and we hope to find Moss-backed Tanager, Rufous-throated Tanager, Barred Puffbird, and Club-winged Manakin. Though it sounds like a lot of traveling, the distances are not that far, and the rewards are well worth the time involved. After a full day of exploring the areas, we will return to our hotel. NIGHT: Séptimo Paraíso, Mindo March 30, Day 9: All Day Birding Tandayapa Valley; Drive to Quito. After breakfast and a quick look at the feeders, we will travel back up and through the Tandayapa Valley. This time we will make a few more designated stops along the upper ridge, looking for Gorgeted Sunangel, another Choco endemic that often feeds amid the many flowers along the road, and, of course, taking time to sort through the many mixed-species flocks that frequently forage beside the road. Since the road here runs right through the heart of some of the most incredible cloud forest habitat on the planet, we will spend much of the morning walking the road with the bus never far behind. We will make our way once again to Pacha Quindi to eat our box lunch and enjoy the hummingbird extravaganza seen daily from its veranda. After lunch, for those who do not wish to spend their time photographing hummers, we will spend some time on their trails before heading back to Quito. Here we hope to find some elusive forest species such as Dark-backed Wood-Quail, Sickle-winged Guan, Beautiful Jay, and Giant Antpitta. Before entering Quito, we will make another stop to look for Giant Hummingbird, hopefully feeding on the agave plants beside the road. March 31, Day 10: Day Visit to Yanacocha Reserve. We will end our tour with a visit to the newly established Yanacocha Reserve, with its spectacular views overlooking Pinchincha Volcano and deep gorges covered in dense elfin forest. Here we will discover yet another assemblage of unique and endemic hummingbirds. We will have the opportunity to see the rare and local Black-breasted Puffleg, along with astonishing views of Sword-billed Hummingbird, Great Sapphirewing, Shining Sunbeam, Buff-winged Starfrontlet, and both Sapphire-vented and Golden-breasted Pufflegs. We will still take time out to look for other local species such as Black-breasted Mountain-Tanager, Barred Fruiteater, Red-crested Cotinga, Pearled Treerunner, and others, before making our way back into Quito.

4 Ecuador: A Hummingbird Extravaganza, Page 4 April 1, Day 11: Departure for Home. A transfer will be provided to the Quito Airport in time for the morning departures of American Airlines at 8:00am to Miami or Continental Airlines at 7:40am to Houston. EXTRA ARRANGEMENTS: Should you wish to make arrangements to arrive early or extend your stay, please contact the VENT office at least two months prior to your departure date. We can very easily make hotel arrangements and often at our group rate, if we receive your request with enough advance time. TOUR SIZE: This tour will be limited to 7 participants. TOUR LEADERS: Paul Greenfield Paul Greenfield grew up near New York City and became interested in birds as a child. He received his B.A. from Temple University where he was an art major at the Tyler School of Art. Since 1972, he has lived in Ecuador where his fascination for birds and art has culminated with the completion of 20 years of work illustrating The Birds of Ecuador, which he co-authored with Robert Ridgely. Paul is very involved in saving Ecuador s avian diversity and important habitats through his involvement with various foundations, as well as working with local government and communities to encourage their involvement in the protection of their biodiversity and the promotion of birding tourism in Ecuador. He has been showing visitors the birds of this fascinating country for over two decades and has led many Ecuador bird tours. He and his wife, Martha, live in Quito. FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS: The fee for the tour is $3115 per person in double occupancy from Quito. This includes all meals from breakfast on Day 2 to breakfast on Day 11, accommodations as stated in the itinerary, ground transportation during the tour, gratuities, and guide services provided by the tour leaders. It does not include airfare from your home to Quito and return, airport departure taxes, alcoholic beverages, special gratuities, phone calls, laundry, or items of a personal nature. Rates are based upon group tariffs; if the tour does not have sufficient registration, a small-party supplement may have to be charged. The single supplement for this tour is $355. You will be charged a single supplement if you desire single accommodations, or if you prefer to share but have no roommate and we cannot provide one for you. TOUR REGISTRATION: To register for this tour, please contact the VENT office. The deposit for this tour is $500 per person. If you prefer to pay your deposit by check, your tour space will be held for 10 days to allow time for the VENT office to receive your deposit and completed registration form. If you prefer to pay your deposit using a credit card, your deposit must be made with MasterCard or Visa at the time of registration. The VENT registration form should then be completed, signed, and returned to the VENT office. Full payment of the tour fee is due 120 days prior to the tour departure date. CANCELLATION POLICY: Refunds are made according to the following schedule: if cancellation is made 120 days or more before the tour departure date, the deposit less $125 per person is refundable. If cancellation is made fewer than 120 days before departure date, no refund is available. This policy and fee schedule also applies to pre-trip and post-trip extensions, as well as any transfers from one tour to another. We strongly recommend the purchase of trip cancellation insurance to protect yourself. If you cancel: Your refund will be: 120 days or more before departure date Your deposit minus $125. Fewer than 120 days before departure date No refund available. TRIP CANCELLATION INSURANCE: Application forms for optional coverage for baggage, illness, and trip cancellation can be obtained through the VENT office. We strongly recommend that you purchase trip cancellation insurance to protect yourself against losses due to accidents or illness. Check with your insurance

5 Ecuador: A Hummingbird Extravaganza, Page 5 agent regarding coverage you may presently have via other insurance policies that may cover illness during your trip. Waiver for pre-existing conditions is available, however, stipulations apply, usually requiring the purchase of the insurance soon after registering. Contact the VENT office prior to registration for details. Victor Emanuel Nature Tours is not a participant in the California Travel Consumer Restitution Fund. California law requires certain sellers of travel to have a trust account or bond. This business has a bond issued by Travelers in the amount of $50,000. CST # AIR INFORMATION: Victor Emanuel Travel is a full-service travel agency and wholly owned subsidiary of Victor Emanuel Nature Tours (VENT). Victor Emanuel Travel will be happy to make any domestic or international air travel arrangements from your home and return. Please feel free to call the VENT office to confirm your air arrangements. BAGGAGE: As a precaution, please pack your travel documents, binoculars, medications, basic toiletries, and a change of clothes in your carry-on bag. Soft-sided suitcases are recommended. Check with your airline for restrictions. CLIMATE: During the tour we will experience the rainy season on the west slope, and dry season on the east slope. The rain is mostly in short intervals and at night, and it rains even in the dry season on the much wetter east slope. The temperature is mostly in the upper 70s by day and upper 50s at night. However, at higher elevations the temperatures can be as low as the 40s on occasion, and you should be prepared to layer for warmth. There is a possibility that we shall be out in at least some mist or light rain; therefore, a good umbrella or rain jacket is essential. CLOTHING: Dress is casual or informal throughout. Lightweight field clothing is the norm for most areas visited, with a sweater or jacket for extra warmth. We suggest dark field pants and shirts for forest birding, and lightweight long-sleeved shirts that dry quickly (long sleeves are not essential, but offer additional protection from sun and biting insects). Please wear darker colors, not whites, and avoid striking patterns that frighten the birds. Also important are a hat and sunscreen for sun protection, rain jacket, poncho or umbrella. Good footwear is essential, and for this we strongly suggest sturdy mud boots or waterproof hiking boots. In any case, your footgear for the field should at the very least be rated water resistant, as this is a damp climate and even the dew on the roadside grass will get your feet wet! At higher elevations the temperatures can be as low as the 40s on occasion (on three days of the tour) and you should be prepared to layer for warmth. You can shed layers as the day warms up (or add them as it cools down). Consider bringing gloves and a stocking cap if you know that you chill easily. There is a strong likelihood that we will be out in at least some mist or light rain on both slopes, so a good umbrella or rain jacket is essential. Gumboots are recommended, but may not be essential here, as long as your footgear is waterproof or at the very least water-resistant. DOCUMENTS: A passport valid for at least six months beyond your planned departure from Ecuador is required. Visas are not required for United States citizens. You will be issued a tourist card to be completed on board your flight to Quito. Non-U.S. citizens should check with their consulate/embassy for instructions. EQUIPMENT: You will want to have a sunhat, sunscreen, and sunglasses for protection from the sun; a belt pack or daypack to carry your field equipment and water bottle; a small flashlight or headlamp; a washcloth or small hand towel; a water bottle; and an alarm clock. Consider bringing an extra pair of binoculars, some between meal snacks (such as trail mix, granola bars, dried fruit, nuts, etc.) and Kleenex or hand wipes. Annoying insects are not very likely in the areas we will be visiting, but you may wish to bring repellent if you are worried about this. Topsyn gel or alcohol is useful for reducing irritation from bites and stings, as is cortisone cream. Your leaders will have a spotting scope; but if you wish to bring your own, that is fine. Again, as a precaution, it

6 Ecuador: A Hummingbird Extravaganza, Page 6 is a good idea to pack your binoculars, basic toiletry items, medications and travel documents, and a change of clothing in your carry-on bag. HEALTH: Malaria is present in parts of Ecuador, including the chloroquine-resistant strain, but not at the locations visited on this tour. Consult with your physician regarding vaccinations and malaria pills. As in most Latin American countries, we recommend drinking only bottled water and using no ice in beverages. Avoid milk products that have not been pasteurized, as well as unpeeled fruits and vegetables. In addition to your physician, a good source of general health information for travelers is the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, which operates a 24-hour recorded Travelers Information Line (877) FYI-TRIP. You can check the CDC website at Canadian citizens should check the website of the Public Health Agency of Canada: (click on travel health). If you are taking prescription medication or over-the-counter medicine, be sure to bring an ample supply that will allow you to get through the tour safely. Please consult your physician as necessary. Remember to pack all medication in your carry-on baggage, preferably in original containers or packaging. As airline baggage restrictions can change without warning, please check with your airline for procedures for packing medication. As standard travel precautions, you should always be up to date with tetanus shots, and strongly consider inoculations against Hepatitis types A and B. MISC: Departure Tax - $25 USD (subject to change without notice). Electricity volts AC, the same as the U.S. Language - Spanish, with Quechua or Indian dialects; some English. Time - Eastern Standard Time SUGGESTED READING: Our website at offers an affiliated online store that carries a wide variety of items for birding and nature lovers, including over 6,000 books. A portion of the sales from the store benefits the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. You might also want to visit such other online stores as and for those out-of-print and hard-to-find titles, or which specializes in ornithology books. Birds, Basic Reference Ridgely, Robert S. and Paul Greenfield. The Birds of Ecuador. Cornell University Press. June, Primary field guide. Hilty, Steven L. and William L. Brown. A Guide to the Birds of Colombia. Princeton: Princeton University Press, An alternative field guide but does not have everything known from Ecuador. Fjeldsa, Jon and Niels Krabbe. Birds of the High Andes. Copenhagen: Zoological Museum, University of Copenhagen; Svendborg, Denmark: Apollo Books, A good reference book for the birds of the mountains above 7,500 ft, with adequate illustrations, but too large to carry and expensive. Birds, Additional Reading: Hilty, Steven. Birds of Tropical America. Shelburne, VT: Chapters Publishing Ltd, Subtitle: A watcher s introduction to behavior, breeding and diversity. Highly recommended as the most readable and informative book on many different aspects of bird ecology (and birding!) in the Neotropics. Ridgely, Robert S. and Guy Tudor. The Birds of South America: Volume I, the Oscine Passerines. Austin, Texas: University of Texas Press, Excellent reference volumes, with text entries for all species and fantastic illustrations of many. This volume and the next together include all of the passerines. Ridgely, Robert S. and Guy Tudor. The Birds of South America: Volume II, the Suboscine Passerines. Austin, Texas: University of Texas Press, Restall, Robin; Rodner, Clemencia and Miguel Lentino. Birds of Northern South America. An identification guide. Volume 2: Plates and Maps. Helms Field Guides

7 Ecuador: A Hummingbird Extravaganza, Page 7 Other: Emmons, Louise H. Neotropical Rainforest Mammals: A Field Guide. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, TIPPING: Tipping (restaurants, porters, drivers, and local guides) is included on VENT tours. However, if you feel one or both of your VENT leaders or any local guides have given you exceptional service, it is entirely appropriate to tip. We emphasize that such tips are not expected and are entirely optional. RESPONSIBILITY: Victor Emanuel Nature Tours, Inc. (VENT) and/or its Agents act only as agents for the passenger in regard to travel, whether by railroad, motorcar, motorcoach, boat, or airplane and assume no liability for injury, damage, loss, accident, delay, or irregularity which may be occasioned either by reason of defect in any vehicle or for any reason whatsoever, or through the acts or default of any company or person engaged in conveying the passenger or in carrying out the arrangements of the tour. VENT and its agents can accept no responsibility for losses or additional expenses due to delay or changes in air or other services, sickness, weather, strike, war, quarantine, or other causes. All such losses or expenses will have to be borne by the passenger, as tour rates provide for arrangements only for the time stated. The right is reserved to substitute hotels of similar category for those indicated and to make any changes in the itinerary where deemed necessary or caused by changes in air schedules. The right is reserved to cancel any tour prior to departure, in which case full refund will constitute full settlement to the passenger. The right is reserved to substitute leaders on any tour. When this is necessary, notification will be given to tour members. No refund will be made for any unused portion of the tour unless arrangements are made in sufficient time to avoid penalties. The prices of the tours are based on tariffs and exchange rates in effect June 20, 2006 and are subject to adjustment in the event of any change therein. The right is reserved to decline to accept or to retain any person as a member of any tour. Baggage is at owner s risk entirely. The airlines concerned and their agents and affiliates are not to be held responsible for any act, omission, or event during the time passengers are not on board their aircraft. The passenger ticket in use by said airlines, when issued, shall constitute the sole contract between the airlines and the purchaser of these tickets and/or passenger. The services of any I.A.T.A.N. carrier may be used for these tours, and transportation within the United States may be provided by any member carrier of the Airline Reporting Corporation.